Sewing machine head elevator



0. A. .IBJORGAN SEWING MACHINE HEAD ELEVATOR Oct. 20, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1957 INVENTOR.

dV/fli J. 8.10064 ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1959 o. A. BJORGAN SEWING MACHINE HEAD ELEVATOR Filed April 8, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill Illlll lllilllal'l'i' INVENTOR. OV/OE 61/026,417

ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1959 o. BJORGAN SEWING HEAD ELEVATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 8, 1957 INVENTOR.

A TTORWEVS ite at s v attin' 7" This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to elevators for sewing machines. I

Broadly, the invention comprehends a two stage elevator for a free arm sewing machine head which may be easily and quickly installed in anystandard sewing machine cabinet.

An object-of the invention is, to provide a pivoted elevator body and spring pressed members for retaining the body in horizontal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a platen movable in a vertical path, to stabilize the platen, and to synchronize the stabilizing elements.

movable in a vertical path and to automatically lock the platen in both lowered and elevated positions.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a two stage elevator fora sewing machine head having a pivoted body adapted to swing into a horizontal position where it is automatically'locked and a platenmovable in the body in a vertical path, to cushionthe platen, to stabilize the platen, and to synchronize the stabilizing elements. r r

The above and other objects and features of the invention, including various novel and desirable .details of construction, will be apparent from thefollowing description of an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: r 1' Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sewing machine cabinet showing the sewing machine head in its lower elevated position for usualsewing; I

Figure '2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; l j 1 Figure 3 a top plan view of the body with a platen therein;

i I Figure -4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially -on line 44 of Fig. 3;

stantially on line 5--5 of Figure 3 illustratingtheplaten and associated partsas "they appear when the sewing machine head is fully elevated; I A

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the platen and associated parts as they appear when the sewing machine head is in the lower elevated position; and

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings for more specific details of the invention 10 designates a conventional sewing machine cabinet having a compartment 12 which may be closed, as by doors 14 and 16. The top of the cabinet has an opening 18, a pivoted leaf 20 defining a portion of the opening and a hinged lid 22 serving to cover the top.

Spaced rails 24 secured to the frame of the cabinet beneath the top thereof and in transverse relation thereto support an elevator body indicated generally at 26. As shown, the body includes a rectangular case having 7 2,909,401 Patented Oct. 20, 1959 front, back and side panels and an open top. The rims of the side panels of the case are turned inward and back upon themselves to provide substantial flanges 30 lending strength and rigidity to the case, and the rims of the front and back panels of the case are turned outwardly to provide elongated tubular sections 32 and 34 also effective to reinforce and strengthen the case and further serving as sockets for'supporting members. As shown, trunnions 36 fitted in the ends of the tubular section 34 on the rim of the back panel are journaled on the transverse rails 24 adjacent the rear ends of the rails, and latch slides 38 fitted for reciprocation in the tubular section 32 on the rim of the front panel, with a compression spring 40 interposed, bear against the transverse rails 24 near the forward ends of the rails when I the elevator body is swung to a horizontal position, and

finger grips 42 are attached to the slides for the retraction of the slides when it is desired to lower the body 26.

Spaced oppositely disposed racks 44 are secured on the front panel interior of the body 26, and corresponding racks 46, positioned directly opposite the racks 44,

V are secured on the back panel interior of the body 26.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken sub- An elevator platen indicated generally at 48 positioned in the elevator body 26 includes a rectangular platform 50 to which there is fixedly secured a free arm sewing I r n machine head 52 which fits neatly in the opening 18 Another object of the invention is to provide. a platen whenthe platform is in raised position. The platform 50 is fitted in the body 26 with small clearance at the front and back edges and is of sufiicient size to bear against the flanges 30 when in raised position. The platform 50 has a marginal flange 54 extended downwardly,

.andtransversely disposedspaced shafts 56 journaled in .ization for the platen.

The shafts 56 also have keyed thereon sprockets 64 land 66 connected by linkage. As shown, the sprockets are connected by sprocket chains 68, with rods 70 interposed and functioning as turn buckles for adjustment of l the sprocket chain so as to synchronize rotation of the shafts 56 so that the spur gears-60 and 62 will travel on the racks 44 and 46 at the same rate of rotation to the .end that the elevator platen or platform may be perfectly balanced.

-A centrally apertured spring seat 72 fixedly secured on thebottom of the body 26 in a central position has thereon a compression spring 74 yieldingly supporting the elevator platen or platform 50, and a lug 76 on the platform has pivoted thereto an adjustable pendulum catch 78 suspended axially of the spring and cooperativewith a keep'80 on the spring seat for retainingthe spring 74 in compressed positionl An adjustable safety stop 82 for rigidly supporting the elevator platen or platform 50 when in a raised position, includes corresponding arms 84 pivoted in oppositely disposed relation to one another on the marginal flange 54 of the platform 50. Each arm 84 has thereon a sleeve 86 receiving one end of a rod 88. As shown, the rod has its ends bent normal to the body thereof and parallel to one another and the ends are threaded for the reception of knurled nuts at each end of the sleeves 86, so that by regulating the nuts the arm 88 may be adjusted to retain the platen or platform rigidly when in elevated position.

In operation, assuming that the elevator and the head 52 supported thereon are in the upper elevated position of Fig. 5 and it is desired to stow the elevator and head in the cabinet with the head in the lower stage position,

the leaf 20 is raised to the position shown in dotted lines ance of the spring 74 until the pendulum catch 78 engages the keep 80, This serves to hold the platen against movement, the slides 38 are then retracted to release the elevator body so that it may be swung downwardly to rest in the compartment 12 of the cabinet, the leaf 20 is then turned down and the lid 22 folded over to cover the top of the cabinet.

If it is next desired to raise the head 52 from a stowed position to the upper stage elevated position, the lid 22 is raised and lowered to the conventional position. The leaf 20 is also raised. The elevator body is then swung up into a horizontal position and locked by the latch slides 38. The catch 78 is then released and the spring 74 floats the platen upwardly against the flanges 30 of the body whereupon the safety stop 82 swings into vertical position to effectively hold the platen against movement. During the downward and upward movement, the spur gears 60 and 62 on the shafts 56 travel on the racks 46 and serve as stabilizers for the platen, and the sprockets on the shafts are connected by linkage 68 and 70 to synchronize rotation of the shafts so as to balance the platen. As the platen moves upward, the head 52 raises through the opening 18 in the top of the cabinet and when the platen is in fully elevated position the leaf 20 is lowered.

Whenever the head is stowed in the position, with respect to the elevator body, in which it is desired to be used, or whenever it is desired to stow the head in the position, with respect to the elevator body, it presently occupies, the only handling required, aside from the possible need to unlatch the elevator body, is the swinging of elevator body 26 to the position desired preceded by the movement of the leaf 20 out of the path of movement of the head.

The adjustability of the pendulum catch 78 and the safety stop 82 makes the subject elevator adaptable for use with the variously dimensioned free arm machines which are available.

Although I have shown and described a certain specific embodiment of the invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a sewing machine cabinet, an elevator for a sewing machine head disposed therein, said elevator comprising a body having at least a partially open underside, a platen movable vertically therein, means for balancing said platen, means for cushioning said platen, means automatically operable when said platen is yieldingly lowered within said body for locking said platen in a lowered position, means automatically operable when said platen is elevated within said body for locking said platen in an elevated position, both of said locking means being manually releasable, and means comprising an opening formed in said cabinet and said at least partially open underside of said body for access to each of said locking means for selective manual release thereof.

2. In combination, a sewing machine cabinet, an elevator for a sewing machine head disposed therein, said elevator comprising a body having at least a partially open underside, a platen movable vertically therein, means for balancing said platen, means for cushioning said platen, means automatically operable when said platen is elevated within said body for locking said platen in an elevated position, said locking means being manually releasable, and means comprising an opening formed in said cabinet and said at least partially open underside of said body for access to said locking means for manual release thereof.

3. In combination, a sewing machine cabinet, an elevator for a sewing machine head disposed therein, said elevator comprising a body having at least a partially open underside, a platen movable vertically therein, means for balancing said platen, means for cushioning said platen, means automatically operable when said platen is yieldingly lowered within said body for locking said platen in a lowered position, said means being manually releasable, and means comprising an opening formed in said cabinet and said at least partially open underside of said body for access to said locking means for manual release thereof.

4. An elevator for a sewing machine head comprising a body, means supporting the same for swinging movement about a horizontal axis between a vertically disposed hanging position and a horizontal position, means for locking the body in a horizontal position, a platen adapted for movement solely vertically in the body with balanced action when said body is in a horizontal position, means for cushioning said platen, and means for selectively maintaining the platen in an elevated or a lowered position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 368,008 Robertson Aug. 9, 1887 918,780 Shier Apr. 20, 1909 1,461,509 Adelmann July 10, 1923 1,881,475 Gibson Oct. 11, 1932 1,888,478 Steidl Nov. 22, 1932 1,932,744 Lambert Oct. 31, 1933 2,215,978 .Schad Sept. 24, 1940 2,409,758 Hohmann et al. Oct. 22, 1946 2,575,045 Chason Nov. 13, 1951 .2,663,607 Schaper Dec. 22, 1953 2,738,248 Berker Mar. 13, 1956 7 2,789,875 Van Ordt Apr. 23, 1957 2,790,689 Hubbell Apr. 30, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 509,347 Belgium Mar. 15, 1952 1932 722,915 France Jan. 8, 

